Hair-cutting gage.



E. E. LONGDEN.

HAIR. CUTTING GAGE. IAPILIOATION 11,121) 11116.2, 1910.

Patented Oct. 8, 1912.

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ELMER E. LONGDEN, U15 TOLEDO, OHIO.

HAIR-CUTTING GAGE.

Application filed August 2, 1910.

To all ark/m it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELMER E. LONGDIEN, a citizen of the United. States, residing at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful improvements in I-Iair-Cutting Gages; and i do declare the following to be a full, clear, and. exact description of the invention, such 2' will enable ethers skilled in the artto which it apportains to make and use the same. reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a device to be used by bar-hers and others who trim or cut hair. and is designed to furnish an adjustable to determine and control the length to which the hair shall be cut. I attain these objects by means of the device hereinafter described, andv shown and illustrated in. the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a side-elevation of my instrument; Fig. 2, a longitudinal central scctional elevation of the same with the toothed hinged comb-plate, hereinafter referred to, opened to its full extent; Fig. 3, an endvicw of my device, seen from the left in Fig. 1, with the two comb-plates, hereinafter referred to, fully separated, and Fig. 41:, the same with said plates closed together.

Like parts are represented by corresponding numerals throughout the drawings.

In the drawings. 1 is a handle composed of suitable metal, polished and finished as may be desired. and terminating at one end in a plate 2 extending laterally and substantially in the same plane with the handle, said plate being at its outer margin toothed after the fashion of a comb, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The teeth 3 are preferably alternately long and short, as shown. and are at their outer ends slightly curved dmvnwardly to conform in some degree to the rctnndity of the human head. The piece composing the handle and plate 2 has a portion 4 turned upwardly at a right angle, to the top of which is pivoted, as at 5, the back edge of a plate 6. This plate. at its outer margin. is toothed. as at 7, to correspond with the teeth 3 of the plate 2. The teeth of the two plates constitute short combs which may be passed through the hair in the usual manner. If the combs be passed through the hair with the two sets of teeth close to Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented (let. 8,1912.

Serial No. 575.082.

gether and if the hair be cut with the shears close to or against the outer surface of the plate (3, the hair will of course he out very short. If this operation be performed with the two series of teeth spread apart, the hair will be left longer in exact proportion to the separation of the two combs. The separation of the two toothed plates is controlled and regulated by means of the devices now to he described.

8 is a thin bar n'u'ninted to slide endwise upon the handle 1 and held in place by inwardly turned overlapping lips 9 and a headed stud 16 projecting through a slot 11 in the bar. The stud serves as a guide for the bar and limits its longitudinal play. The end of the bar projecting between the two comb-plates is curved, as at. 12. toward the hinged plate with its extremity resting against and sliding upon an inclined metal strip 13 having its ends secured to the inner side of the plate (5. The two comb-plates are held normally in closed relation by means of a spring which,--in the presentinstancc, for illustration,---consists of a rubber band l t having its ends secured, as at 15, to the inner side of the plate 2 and pass ing through a loop 16 upon the inner side. of the plate (3. Other forms of spring for holding the plates in normally closed relation will readily suggest themselves.

Upon the bar 8 is a thumb-piece 17 which, together with the transverse corrugations on the bar, affords a hold for the thumb of the operator, as he grasps the handle of the in strument, by which the bar may be easily moved to and fro. hen the bar is drawn backwardly awav from the con1bplates, the spring will hold the points of the teeth of the two plates together, as in Fig. l. As the bar 8 forced forward.the plates are spread apart by the wedge-him action of the part 12 upon the inclined, surface 13. Since only that portion of the hair which projects through the teeth is severed by the operators shears, it will be seen that the operator can easily control the position of the shears and gage the out and guard against cutting the hair too short in places, by regulating the position of the part 8 and the consequent relative positions of the comb-plates 3 6.

Having described my invention. what i claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-

1. A pair of plates each toothed on one of its margins as a comb, pivotal connections between said plates at their margins opposite the toothed margins, a handle rigidly connected with one end of one of the plates, an inclined member carried by one of said plates, a member slidable longitudinally of the handle and adapted by its movement in contact with such inclined member to swing one of the plates upon its said pivots, and means for holding said swinging member in operative engagement with said sliding member.

2. In a device of the described character, a handle, a c0mb-plate rigidly supported by the handle, a corresponding comb-plate pivoted upon the handle to cooperate with the opposed comb-plate, a spring which holds the two plates in normally closed relation, a sliding member mounted upon the handle, an inclined member secured to the inner side of the pivoted plate and in the path of the sliding member, the arrangement being such that the movement of the sliding member swingsthe pivoted comb-plate upon itspivot.

3. A hair cutting gage comprising a handle having a comb rigidly connected thereto at one end, a second comb, the two combs being hinged together at their backs and the second comb having a surface inclined to the axis of the handle, a controller mounted for movement lengthwise of the handle and having a portion engaging said inclined surface whereby when the controller is moved, the distance between the toothed edges of the combs is varied and resilient means tending to draw these edges together.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELMER E. LONGDEN.

lVitnesses CLAYTON MURPHY, LEONA KIBURTZ.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D, C." 

